Cabinet construction



J'me 3, 1941- L. H. DARBYsHlRE 2,244,488

CABINET CONSTRUCTION leonard Darysjre.

June 3, 1941. H. DARBYsHxRE CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 4, 1937 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 3,- 11941 L H. DARBYsHlRE CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb'. 4, 19:57

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 www GMM/M443 erator cabinet embodying Patented June 3, `1941 2,244,488 CABINET CONSTRUCTION Leonard H. Darbyshire, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Borg-Warner Corporation, a corporation o1' Illinois Application February 4, 1937, Serial No. 124,076 (Cl. 220-9) 1 Claim.

This invention relates to cabinet construction and has particular reference to certain new4 and useful improvements in heat insulated cabinets and method of constructing the same.

For purposes of illustration, the invention is shown as being embodied in a refrigerator cabinet of the household type, which comprises a sheet metal outer shell adapted to form a sup' port and enclosure for a heat insulated provision compartment and a machine or apparatus compartment. The shell may be constructed of several suitably formed metallic panels and a base, which preferably are iixedly secured together, such as by welding, so ing for enclosing the insulation, provision tank and` apparatus, and which casing constitutes a support therefor.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved form of heat insulated cabinet which is more simple in construction than cabinets of this type as heretofore known, and which cabinet, because of the simplicitybf its iconstruction, can be manufactured at a lower cos Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved construction for supporting the provision tank in a refrigerator cabinet.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for more eiiiciently in sulating the provision tank of a refrigerator cabinet.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for heat insulated cabinets wherein the insulation material is enclosed in such a way as to be protected from exposure to moisture.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvement in cabinet constructions of the type disclosed herein, wherein the shell of the cabinetis so constructed and arranged as to form a frame upon which the interior parts of the cabinet are supported'. a

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method of constructing cabinets of the type illustrated herein.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specication taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which there are four (4) sheets, `and wherein:

Fig. Y1 is a front elevational view of a refrigmy invention Fig, 2 is a verticalsectional view through the upper front corner of the cabinet shown in Fig. 1

as to form a casand taken in a plane on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the front and rear side corners of the cabinet shown in Fig. 1 and taken in a plane on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. '4 is a vertical sectional view, taken in a plane on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and illustrating that part of the front of the cabinet which separates the provision compartment from the machine compartment; y Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sectional views taken in planes on the lines tand respectively, of Figs. 2 and 4, looking in the direction of the 'arrows and illustrating in section the details of construction of the cabinet at the upper and lower side corners of the provision compartment;

Figs. '7 and 8 are vertical sectional views taken in' planes on the lines 'l-l and B-il respectively, of Figs. 5 and 6, looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating certain details oi the cabinet construction at the upper and lower rear corners of the provision compartment;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of one side of the base and illustrating the relationship thereof to one of` the side walls of the cabinet, said side walls being shown in section;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to that of part of Fig. 3 and illustrating a modied form of construction;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the sides and top of a modified form of shell for the cabinet illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a part of a lblank of metal illustrating a step in the process by which the shell illustrated in Fig. 11 may be formed;

Fig, 13 is a perspective view of the blank illustrated in Fig. 12, but at a later step in the process;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the sides and top of a modied form of shell for the cabinet illustrated in Fig, l;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of one of the panels of the shell illustrated in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a section illustrating one manner in which the two panels of the shell illustrated in Fig. 14 might be arranged and secured relative to each other; a

Fig. 17 illustrates a different manner in which the two panels ofthe shell illustrated in Fig. 14 might be joined together at their adjoining edges at the top of the cabinet; and

Fig. 18 is a vertical section illustrating the machine compartment. the cabinet may be provided by a shell indicated 'manner in which the side panels are secured to ing to the provision compartment and a door 22 which closes the front access opening to the The outer covering of generally at 24 and which may be formed by securing together a pair of side panels 26, top panel 28, back panel 30, and a base 32. These panels or parts may be formed out of sheet metal. One of the side panels 26 may be formed, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to provide a covering or surface for a side of the cabinet, and which extends around the vertical corners at the front and the rear of the cabinet so as to cover portions of the front and rear walls contiguous to said sidewall and which extends from the bottom of the cabinet to approximately the level of the upper edge of the access opening in the front wall of the cabinet. At the rear, the side panel is provided with a return flange 34, and at the front, the side panel 26 is provided with an inwardly extending flange 36. The top edge of the side panel 26 is provided 'with an offset 38. The side panel 26 for the other side of the cabinet may have the same section ,as that illustrated in Fig. 3 but must be formed as the reverse thereof and is provided with a like return flange 34 at the rear thereof, an inturned flange 36 at the front thereof, and an oiset like oset 38. Those portions of the side panels 26 which cover the front and rear vertical corners of the cabinet and portions of the front and rear Walls of the cabinet may be' considered yas integral flanges 40 of the side panels 26. As will be observed in Fig. 3, the front anges 40 extend around to the edge of the access vopening for the provision compartment and cover that portion of the front wall of the cabinet disposed laterally of the access opening and the door 26 so that each of the side panels 26 completely covers those portionsof the sides of the cabinet from the vertical edge of 'the access opening around to the back of the c abinet where the space between the back flanges 40 is covered by the back panel 30, which extends from the same top level as the upper edge of the side panels 26, down to a level just below that of the provision compartment where the bottom edge of the back panel 36 is turned inwardly to form a flange 42, which extends between the returning flanges 34 and the side panels 26,- thereby leaving the space at the back of the cabinet and below the ange 42 open. The top panel 28 is formed as a cap having depending side flanges 44,v a depending rear. ange 46, and a depending front flange 48, the front flange having a return `flange 56, which extends between the inturned flanges 36 of the side panel members 26 and at the upper edge of theaccess opening to the provision compartment. The top panel 28 may be joined to the side panels 26, as illustrated in Fig. 5, by Welding the lower edge of the flanges 44 vto the offsets 38 so as to provide a substantially smooth 'and continuous outer surface for the shell, and the top panel 28 may be secured to the back panel by welding depending ange 46 of the top panel 28 to the up, per edge of the back panel 30, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The back panel 36 may'be secured to the .side panel 26 by welding the side edges of the back panel 30 to the rear flanged portions 40 of the side panel members 26, as illustrated in Fig.

3. The bottom edges of the side panels 26 are secured to the base 32, as illustrated in Fig. 18, wherein it may be observed that the bottom edges of the side panels 26 are provided with a return flange 52 which receives the rim 54 of the base 32. The rim 54, the flange 52 and the opposite portionV of the panel 26 may be secured together by welding so that the side panel members 26 are supported by the base 32.

'I'he provision compartment is formed by a sheet metal tank 56 of rectangular shape, formed of metal or any other suitable material enclosed on all sides, except at the front, where the inner periphery of the tank 56 about the opening is formed to provide a throat 58 and a flange 60, by means of which flange 68 the tank-56 is-secured in position in the cabinet.

A rectangular frame indicated generally at 62 and comprising a top horizontally disposedl member 64, a pair of vertically disposed side members 66, and a horizontally disposed bottom member 68 is arranged within the shell 24 at the front and adjacent the upper part thereof so as to dene a door opening. The inturned flanges 36 of the side panels 26 and the inturned flange 50 of the top panel 28 are provided with a series ofv openings, by means of which the frame 62 may be nailed within the shell 24 and to the side and top panels thereof. The frame 62 preferably is formed by securing the parts thereof rigidly together .and such frame is inserted in position within the shell 24 after the shell has been formed and provided with suitable nish, such as lacquer or porcelain. The under side of the bottom member 68 of the frame 62 may be provided with one or'more plates 16 suitably secured thereto and which plates 10, together with the inturned flange 42 of the back vpanel member 30, provide a seat for a slab 12 of Wood or other material which forms a transverse wall across the shell and defines the upper wall of a machine compartment disposed therebelow. The space above the wall 12 and below the top panel 28 and between the side and ranged in place within the shell 24,*the insideof the space above the -slab 12 is lined with slabs or packages 14 of heat insulating material. The

heat insulating material may comprise any suitable insulation which is wrapped or covered with a waterproof or water-resisting material so as to keep moisture away from the insulation and such slabs may be formed as rectangular shaped packages so that-they may be readily inserted in place and completely flll the space between lthe provision tank 56 and the outer shell of the cabinet. 'I'he insulation material preferably is z preformed so that it will readily t within the l space available in the shell 24. v

The packages of insulation may be arranged as follows: One or more slabs 14 may be stood on end upon the wall 12 and adjacent each of the side panels 26. 'Ihe insulation material adjacent the side panels 26 should have a vertical edge seated against the vertical member 66 of the wood frame 62 and should extend t0 the rear of the cabinet and vinto close proximity with the rear flanges 40 of the side panel members 26. Another slab 14 of insulation may be horizontally arranged upon lthe wall 12 and between the slabs 14 which are disposed against; the side panel members 26. At the 'rear of the cabinet,

t between `the tank 56 2,244,488 one or more slabs 'i4 of insulation may be sup- `insulation has been arranged, the space within the `shell above the wall 12 will be completely lined with insulation except for the door opening.

The upper outer corners of the wall 12 may be cut away as at 'I6 and around the periphery thereof so as to provide a space which may be filled with a sealing material such as tar or any other substance which will seal the wall 12 to the adjoining side walls or parts of the shell 24 so as to prevent substantially the circulation of air `or moisture through the joints between the various sections of the walls. Certain adjoining edges of the slabs 'i4 of insulation and parts of the cabinet are provided with tar or some other sealing material such as at the points indicated by the reference character '18 so that the slabs of insulation are bonded or sealed together and to the frame 62 and slab 12 so as to prevent The door 20 may be supported by a pair of hinges 90 which may be secured to the frame 82. 'Ihe basey 32 may comprise a pair of end members 92 connected by a pair of front and rear side rails 94 and provided with four brackets 96 by means of which a condensing unit may be removably supported upon the base 32. The base 32 preferably is formed as a unit and out of i metal stampings before being welded to the remainder of the shell 24.

The door may be formed in any suitable manner and provided with insulating material v and the inner face of the door adjacent the circulation of air through the joints between the f various slabs of insulating material. The tar or sealing material may be applied to the space formed by the removed corners 'I6 of the wall 12 before the insulation is installed and may be applied to the insulation either before or after the slabs are arranged in place, if the insulation material is of such nature that the slabs may be deformed slightly for the purpose of applying the sealing material.

After the insulation has been arranged in place, tank 56 may be inserted within the remaining space and there should be a good snug and the insulation material. The flange 66 of the tank is provided with a series of holes by means of which the tank may be secured to the frame 62, such as by a series of screws 80. Strips 82 of material may be secured to the inner periphery of the frame 62 for bridging the space between the flanges 58 and 36 of the shell and the ilange 66 of the tank 56. Such strips may be secured to the frame by a series of screws 83. The strips 82 may be formed 4of wood covered with a suitable waterproof material to form a throat lining for the access openingv to the provision tank 56. The outer surface of the bottom member 68 of the frame 62 may be covered by a removable metallic strip or panel 84 having a 'finish like the exterior of the shell 24 and secured in place by one or more screws 86. The panel 84 need not be welded or otherwise integrally secured to the shell 24, but simply removably secured to the member 68. The heads of the screws 86 may be utilized for hanging theldoor 22 of the machine compartment. It will be observed in referring to Fig. l, that the door of the machine compartment extendsv downwardly so as to cover the front of the frame 32 and to simulate the appearance of a base for the cabinet. As the side panels 26 extend down to the bottom of the cabinet, as illustrated in Fig. 18, no separate base is provided for the cabinet, but the base 32 may be provided with four short legs 88 at the corners of the cabinet 4so that the bottom edges of the panels 26 will be supported just clear of the floor upon which the cabinet sets.

periphery thereof vmay be provided with a continuous resilient gasket 98 for sealing the door to ythose portions ofthe front Wall of the cabinet about the access opening to the provision compartment.'

The joint between the top panel 28 andthe, side panels 26 may be provided by welding the adjoining portions of .these panels together and finishing or polishing the weld so that the joint between the panels is hardly noticeable. As the top panel 28 extends from the edge of the access opening upwardly over the front Wall of the cabinety thence over the top wall of the cabinet and thence down over the top rear comer, as well as over the top side corners and the four corners .formed at .the juncture of the side and top walls,.the shell may, after being iinished, have the appearance of being formed out of a continuous piece of metal and will have a smooth and continuous surface which may readily be kept clean.

The Welding. of the side, top and rear panels, and the base togethenprovides a rigid shell which acts as a frame and supports all of the parts of the cabinet and the apparatus arrangedy therein.` It will be observed that there is no metallic connection between the outer shell 24 and the tank 56 and that the tank 56 is supported entirely bythe frame 62 which is secured to the front of the shell 24. The return flanges 34 at the back of the cabinet serve to stiffen the side panels 26. It vill be observed that with this construction, the necessity of a separate independent and rigid frame work is eliminated. While it may be observed that some of the slabs i4 of insulating material are spaced from parts of the outer shell 24, this is due to the shape of the outer shell and the rounded corners thereof, and there is no necessity of, or particular advantage resulting from, having an air space between the slabs 'i4 of insulation and the outer shell 24 at certain parts of the cabinet.

In Fig. 10 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention wherein the interior surfaces of the shell 24 are coated with a thin lm of a water-proofing material such as a plastic, rubber; or some material which may be applied by spraying so as to deposit a thin and continuous i lm of material over the entire surfaceon'the inside of the shell, as well as the exposed surfaces of the wood frame 62.

In Fig. l0 there is illustrated a' horizontal section through the rear side corner of the cabinetsuch as disclosed in Fig'. 3. In Fig. 10 it will be observed that the lm of plastic material extends continuously over the joints between adjoining panels such as the joints 4between the back panel 30 and the rear ange 48 of the side panel 26. The interior of the shell preferably would be provided with the film of water-prooiingl material prior to the installation of the slabs 'i4 of insulation and this film of water-proofing material may extend over all of the interior surface of the shell 24 above the wall 12 as well as over the surfaces of the wood frame 62. Preferably wood frame 62 might be provided with a` film or coating |00 Aof water-proofing material prior to .insertion into the shell 24. On account ofthe continuity of the coating |00 and the resistance thereof to the passage' of air or moisture therethrough, the coating |00 would provide an additional protection for the insulation material. The coating |00 may be of some material which will dry after application so that the slabs 14 of' insulation will not adhere to the inside of the shell.

In Figs. 11 to 13'inclusive, there is illustrated a modified form of shell construction wherein the top and sides of the shell, are shown as being constructed of a single blank of metal. While only the top and sides of the shell are illustrated in Figs. 11 to 13, it is contemplated that the remainder of the shell and the cabinet construction may be like that illustrated in Figs. 1 to and 18.

In Fig. 12 there is shown a plan view of a portion of a fiat blank of metal, which blank is of such dimensions so as to provide a covering for the top and side walls of the cabinet; those portions of the front wall disposed outwardly of the accessopening, all of the corners at the rear of the cabinet and certain portions of the rear wall adjacent the side and top Walls of the cabinet. Fig. 12 shows the manner in which the blank |20 is cut so that the blank may be bent4 to form the cornersbetween the top, front, rear and side walls at one side of the cabinet. 'I'he corners at the other side of the cabinetmay be formed'from a similar cutting of the blank. When the blank |20 is flat, a portion thereof along the front edge, is removed as at |22 so Ithat when the blank is folded or bent about the vaxis |24, the edges formed by removing the,I metal at |22 will meet as illustrated at |26, so that after welding or otherwise securing the edges of the cut together a smooth and continuous corner will be provided between the front, top, and side walls ofthe shell at one side thereof. Similarly, before the blank |20 is bent, a portion thereof along the rear edge thereof is removed as at |28, so that i when the blank |20 is folded, a smooth and continuous corner will be'provided between the top, side and rear walls of the shell at one side thereof.

After removing metal from the 'blank as at |22and |28, the blank |20 may be bent alo-ng the lines |30, |32 and |34, so as to provide :a rear flange |40, a front flange |42, and a return flange |36. The return flange |36is adapted to be arranged likeithe flanges 36 and 50 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10; that is, to provide a means by which the front of the shell may be secured to the frame 62. The blank |20 may be folded along the line so as to provide substantially a right angle corner |3| at the rear of the cabinet, whereas the blank may be bent about the line |32 so as to provide a rounded corner such asA illustrated at |44 at the front of the cabinet. The rear corner may be formed similar to the front corner ifdesired. The bend along line |24 is illustrated as providing a round corner between the top andjsdes, but'other corners may be used, in which event the-shape of the removed portions |22 and |28 would be different. After the blank |20 has been be'nt to'form the top wall |46, side walls |48, the flanges 42 which cover the front wall outwardly of the access opening, andthe rear flanges |40, the base and the back cabinet may be added in a manner similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10 and the exterior surface of the shell can then be provided with a suitable finish such as porcelain or lacquer after which the remaining parts of the cabinet may be assembled, asillustrated in Figs. 1 to 10.

In JFigs. 14 to 17 inclusive, there is shown a. further modification of the invention wherein the top and side WallsI are provided by two panels which meet at the center of the top. A pair of panels may be formed in accordance with the process set forth in connection with Figs. 11 to 13 inclusive, to provide a portion' |52 for covering one side of the cabinet, a portion |54 for covering one half of the top of the cabinet, flanges |56 for covering parts of the front wall disposed outwardly of ythe vdoor opening and flanges |58 for covering parts of the rear wall, Athe portions and flanges being formed so as to provide a continuous surface for covering the corners between the side, front and rear walls. The edge of the panel at the front `may be provided with a flange |60 like the flanges 36 and 50 and the edge of the top portion |54 of the panel may be provided with a. depending flange |62 so that when the two panels are assembled as illustrated in Figs. 14 and 16, the flanges |62 may be nailed or secured to a frame member |64 and a. strip '|66 of trim may be removably secured by means of a clip |68 for covering the joint between the two top por-tions |54 of the panels |50. Ifv the panels |50 are arranged as illustrated in Fig. 16, it may be desirable to provide more framework for the cabinet than is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10 although when the back panel, the Wooden door frame and the base have been assembled with the two panels |50, the two panels |50 will be securely fastened together.y However, if it seems desirable, additional framing may be provided. The frame member |64 may be amember which extends under the joint between the two panels |54.

If desired, the' two panels |50 may be joined together along the top by a joint such as that illustrated in Fig. 17 wherein the top portion |54 of one of the panels may be provided with an offset so that portions of the two panels may be disposed in overlapping relationship and welded together so as tomake the .two panels |50 an integral unit similarto the shell illustrated in Fig. 11. In fact the shell made with the two panels as illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15 is similar to the shell made with the single" blank as illustrated in Fig. 11 except for the joint at the top between the Itwo panels |50. `If a joint like that illustrated in Fig. 1'7 is utilized, the shell, after being provided with a finished surface, will have the appearance of the shell illustrated in Fig. 11.

The portion of the shell iuustrated in Figs 14 and 15 may be completed in a, manner similar to that as set forth in connection with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10.

- While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purpose of illustration only and is'not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts Vas will fall within the purview of the attached claim.

In a refrlgeratorcabinet, a metal casing, said casing comprising a, pair of sidepanels having inturned portions at the top rigidly joined together to formthe top of the casing, said panels having flanges along each edge thereof forming a. portion of the iront and rear walls of said cabinet, a rigid frame attached to the inside of the iianges forming the front of said cabinet and bracing the upper portion 'of said panels, said frame also dening a. door opening and provid- A ing a support for a door for said opening, a back 10 panel attached to the flanges on the back side rst mentioned panels and bracing said panel and supporting said cabinet.

LEONARD H. DARBYSHIRE. 

